New report on innovation in Africa finds youth believe the next Mark Zuckerberg could come from the continent

LAGOS, Nigeria, 16 November 2022-/ African Media Agency/- Africa’ s youth prefer using local innovations and believe that the next tech billionaire could come from the continent, according to the recently launched Africa– innovator or imitator? The research was done in Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

LAGOS, Nigeria, 16 November 2022 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/- Africa’s youth prefer using local innovations and believe that the next tech billionaire could come from the continent, according to the recently launched Africa – innovator or imitator? Exploring narratives around Africa’s technological capabilities report by Africa No Filter.

The research was done in Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The report interviewed 4500 people aged 18 to 35 to find out their perceptions of African-led innovation and if they are influenced by dominant narratives that promote the Global North as superior innovators.

While the image of Africa as an innovator appears to be overshadowed by stereotypes of a ‘backward’ continent that’s largely a recipient of Global North innovations, our study found that young Africans (79%) believed it was possible for poor countries to produce great innovations that can influence the world.

72% said it was possible for their own countries to produce tech billionaires. The majority of respondents (62%) believed in the power of African innovation and preferred using local innovations where they were available.

Technology and innovation have had a rapid impact in shaping the world, Africa included. Local innovations have transformed healthcare, how Africans do business and how African governments interact with citizens. In 2021, Africa accounted for 70% of the total value of mobile money transactions globally and the continent appears to be leading the way in fintech. This year, 109 African fintech start-ups raised over $1 billion in growth funding.

Moky Makura, Executive Director at Africa No Filter, said: “There have been a number of innovations and tech-solutions that show that Africa is an innovative continent. The youth’s positive attitude towards innovation across the continent and in their own countries shows that there’s a lot of potential for the sector; young people are interested in innovating and supporting local innovations. We commissioned the report because we wanted to understand how innovation resonates with young Africans. The report shows that while respondents value homegrown innovation and innovators, more can be done to remove barriers like lack of infrastructure.”

The report also highlighted the following:

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of Africa No Filter

Inquiries:[email protected]

Research Methodology:

The report interviewed 4500 people aged 18 to 35 in Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Random sampling was used to reach 500 respondents in each country. Questions were designed by GeoPoll and Africa No Filter and conducted in English, French and Arabic. The polls were conducted in April 2021. We intend to extend this study to other countries at a later stage.

About Africa No Filter:

We are a donor-collaborative shifting stereotypical and harmful narratives within and about Africa through research, grant-making, community building and advocacy by supporting storytellers, investing in media platforms, and driving disruption campaigns. Our funders are Ford Foundation, Bloomberg, Mellon Foundation, Luminate, Open Society Foundations, Comic Relief, the Hilton Foundation, the British Council and Hewlett Foundation.

You can follow Africa No Filter on:

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

The post New report on innovation in Africa finds youth believe the next Mark Zuckerberg could come from the continent appeared first on African Media Agency.

Source : African Media Agency (AMA)

The post New report on innovation in Africa finds youth believe the next Mark Zuckerberg could come from the continent appeared first on Liberia news The New Dawn Liberia, premier resource for latest news.